WJPA Sports

PITTSBURGH (AP) — T.J. Watt intercepted returned an interception of Cooper Rush 35 yards for a touchdown to help the Pittsburgh Steelers secure a 20-13 win over Atlanta. Pittsburgh began the Mike McCarthy era with a sluggish performance, particularly on offense. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers passed for 221 yards and a touchdown in the first game of his 22nd season and his reunion with McCarthy. Bijan Robinson accounted for 173 of Atlanta’s 238 total yards. Rush was filling in for the injured Tua Tagovailoa. He threw for a touchdown and a pair of interceptions that Pittsburgh turned into scores.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Joey Porter Jr. isn’t getting a new contract before the season starts. The Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback also isn’t playing in the opener against Atlanta. The team made Porter inactive 90 minutes before kickoff. Porter is entering the final season of his rookie contract signed in 2023. The Steelers have re-signed other players from his draft class, but not Porter. He tweaked his back during a mobility test in July and spent most of the preseason on the physically unable to perform list. The team has a tradition of not negotiating during the season, so talks will resume in mid-January.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Jaxson Dart connected with Isaiah Likely for two touchdowns and Devin Singletary on another, Cam Skattebo ran for one in his first game back from injury and the New York Giants opened the season by beating the Dallas Cowboys 28-20 in John Harbaugh’s debut as coach. Dart made one smart throw after another, mixing in a series of well-timed runs to keep the defense off balance. The Cowboys committed a series of costly penalties, and Dak Prescott threw an interception that contributed to New York scoring before halftime.

CHICAGO (AP) — Brandon Lowe hit a tiebreaking two-run single in Pittsburgh’s three-run sixth inning, and the Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3 to avoid a sweep of their weekend series. Bryan Reynolds had two hits for Pittsburgh, including an early RBI single. Carmen Mlodzinski, Luke Weaver and Mason Montgomery combined for 3 2/3 hitless innings in relief of Bubba Chandler. The Pirates closed out a 4-2 stay in Chicago. They swept the White Sox before dropping two of three against the Cubs. Miguel Amaya homered for Chicago, and Michael Busch had two hits. Matthew Boyd allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings in his second straight loss.

The Wild Things, down a run entering the ninth after leading 7-0, walked off the Y’alls on an RBI single by Cole Fowler with the bases full, winning 9-8 and punching their ticket to the Midwest Conference finals and a date with Evansville.  The Wild Things will be the only Division Champion to play in the conference finals. Games 1 and 2 are in Evansville Tuesday and Wednesday this week at 7:35/6:35 p.m. CDT. Tickets are on sale now for Games 3-5 with Games 4 and 5 if necessary, in the best of five. Game 3 is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Friday, September 18, Game 4 at the same time Saturday, September 19 and Game 5 at 4:05 p.m. Sunday, September 20.